Chaffee Crossing, the 7,000-acre Army surplus property in Fort Smith, continues to be a popular development destination in its new civilian life, playing host to a spate of expansion and relocation announcements during the past year.

Many mayors of Arkansas cities would like to see the Arkansas River’s shipping channel deepened from 9 feet to 12 feet to facilitate more efficient barge traffic. Deeper water means heavier barges, and that means lower shipping costs, which means cheaper products for the rest of us.

Fort Smith took a hard hit in the recession and lost a bounty of jobs when Whirlpool ceased operations in the city in 2012. There have been a number of job announcements for Fort Smith throughout the past year, but those announcements haven’t helped tax revenue.

A drive through the intersection of Zero Street and Massard Road in Fort Smith illustrates what a popular spot for local businesses the area has become. A bank, a shopping center and a mini-storage complex are among the enterprises that have set up shop near where the two streets meet.